Plasma beta-endorphin level in cases of premenstrual syndrome

The concentrations of plasma B-endorphin and serum prolactin, progesterone, estradiol and cortisol in 14 women complaining of premenstrual tension syndrome [P.M.S] and 14 normal women were measured at 25th day of the cycle followed by endometrial biopsy using Novak curette. There was significant elevation in prolactin and significant reduction in B-endorphin levels in cases of P.M.S. when P.M. S patients were classified according to prolactin level, hyper-prolactinaemic patients [serum prolactin > 20 ng/ml] had significantly higher level of B-endorphin compared to norm oprolactinaemic patients P < 0.01, while according to endometrial pattern, patients with luteal phase defect showed significant elevation of prolactin and B-endorphin compared to cases with normal secretory activity pattern. Nevertheless at all circumstances B-endorphin levels in P.M.S patients were significantly lower than normal. It is included from this study that, B-endorphin depletion can be considered, as a marker of P.M.S. and it may have an etiological effect on it

Copper and zinc levels in premature rupture of membranes and premature Labour

Sixty women in labour were included in this study, 30 patients with premature rupture of membranes [PROM], 15 full term and 15 premature delivery, and 30 patients without PROM, 15 full term and 15 premature delivery. Serum copper and zinc were measured in maternal and cord blood samples in all studied groups. Maternal and fetal copper showed a significant decrease in cases with PROM both in term and preterm when compared to that of patients without PROM while there was no significant change in serum copper levels between the groups with pre term and term labour. Maternal Zinc levels were significantly decreased in the group of premature labour when compared to those in term labour irrespective of presence or absence of PROM. So, it is concluded that copper deficiency may have a role in PROM, while zinc deficiency may be related to the initiation of preterm delivery

Endocrinologic and ultrasonographic study in early pregnancy loss

Fifteen cases of early pregnancy loss [EPL] and 10 cases with normal singleton pregnancy has been followed up by ultrasonography as well as assessment of serum Estradiol [E[2]] progesterone [P. human chorionic gonadotropin [HCG] and human placental lactogen [HPL] starting as early as 3 weeks from the last menstrual period till the occurrence of abortion or till 12 weeks of pregnancy. The results showed that 73.3% of cases of EPL were anembryonic pregnancy. The results of hormonal assay showed that in the first 4 - 6 weeks of pregnancy hormone levels were not significantly different in the EPL from that in the control group and this denotes that the corpus luteum function is normal in EPL. IT is the placenta which fails to contribute to hormone production in EPL and this placental failure occurs earlier [between 6-8 weeks] in respect to steroid production but the ability of the placenta to produce HCG and HPL is preserved although at a considerably lower level than normal during the first 8- 10 weeks. So ultrasonography is mandatory in the management of EPL and hormone prophylaxis seems unnecessary, as the corpus luteum function is normal